What to expect from a prostrate ultrasound?
A prostrate ultrasound is an examination performed by your doctor or other health care provider when there are concerns about the size of the prostate gland. A large prostate may indicate cancerous growths (prostatitis) or benign tumors (benign prostatic hyperplasia). An enlarged prostate gland is usually found during a physical exam with an endoscope. However, it can also be detected through an imaging test called a sonography.
The procedure used to detect prostate enlargement is called a digital rectal exam (DRE). DRE involves inserting a speculum into the rectum and looking at the inside of the urethra. The image produced by this test will show if there are any changes in the size or shape of the prostate gland.
If these findings suggest that something is wrong, then further testing may be needed.
Prostate ultrasound scan results are very helpful in diagnosing prostate problems. They can also provide valuable information about the condition of the prostate gland itself. For example, they can reveal whether or not there is a mass (benign prostatic hyperplasia), which means that the prostate gland does not need to be removed immediately.
How do I prepare for a prostrate ultrasound?
The best way to prepare for a prostrate ultrasound is to make sure you do not eat anything for at least six hours before the test.
Why?
Because if you have food in your stomach, there will be a delay in starting the actual examination due to the time needed for your body to process the food and for the bowel to empty.
If you have a full bladder and need to urinate, then you should try to go ahead and empty it. If you have not eaten anything and you still need to empty your bladder, then you should do so before arriving at the facility where your ultrasound is going to be performed.
What are the steps involved in a prostrate sonography?
Once you reach the facility where the test is going to be performed, you will change into a hospital gown and use a privacy screen while changing. After that, you will wait until an ultrasound technician can start the actual examination.
During the examination, you will be asked to lie on a table. The technician will then put some jelly or gel on your abdomen and inner thighs. This is to keep the ultrasound probe from hurting you when it is slid into your rectum.
Next, the technician will slide the probe into your rectum to get a look at your prostate.
As soon as the probe is in place, a picture of your prostate will appear on a computer screen next to the table.
Sources & references used in this article:
Prostate cancer detection upon transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy in relation to digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen level: what to expect … by JYC Teoh, SKK Yuen, JHL Tsu, CKW Wong… – Asian journal of …, 2015 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Computerized supported transrectal ultrasound (C-TRUS) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer by T Loch – Der Urologe. Ausg. A, 2004 – europepmc.org
Current status of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer by J Raja, N Ramachandran, G Munneke, U Patel – Clinical radiology, 2006 – Elsevier
Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate: relation between ASA use and bleeding complications by RR Gray, EJ Herget, JC Saliken… – Canadian …, 1999 – search.proquest.com
Accuracy and repeatability of prostate volume measurements by transrectal ultrasound by LM Eri, H Thomassen, B Brennhovd… – Prostate cancer and …, 2002 – nature.com
Prostate boundary segmentation from 3D ultrasound images by N Hu, DB Downey, A Fenster, HM Ladak – Medical physics, 2003 – Wiley Online Library
Computer-aided image analysis in transrectal ultrasound of the prostate by T Loch, T Gettys, JS Cochran, PF Fulgham… – World Journal of …, 1990 – Springer
